ACTIVITY
Cannibalism: is it ever a good idea?
Game Rules Sheet
There has just been a rainstorm in the desert, bringing spadefoot toads up to breed.
You will take on the role of a tadpole, attempting to find enough resources in your
environment to survive until metamorphosis. It is very important that you get as
much food as you can, as your pond is steadily drying up. If you don’t make it to
metamorphosis before the pond is gone, you will not be able to survive and
contribute to the next generation.
1. All players should collect a coffee cup and two halves of a coffee stirrer.
2. Players will spread themselves out around the edge of the beach volleyball court
(the “desert pond”), where several types of resources have been spread out (yellow
square general food resources, three families of tadpoles in red, blue, and green).
At this point, no families have evolved the ability to use anything other than plant
detritus (yellow squares) as food.
3. When told to start, players will use the stirrer halves to pick up yellow food
resources and place them into their coffee cups (“stomachs”). PICK UP ONLY
YELLOW RESOURCES FOR THIS ROUND.
4. After a minute has passed, players will step off the court and count the number of
resource items in their cups. 15 items are necessary to survive to metamorphosis and
get out of the pond.
For the second round, new strategies have evolved in the population, allowing
members of some families to consume other tadpoles as a resource.
5. All players will count off as directed to assign themselves to Family 1, Family 2,
or Family 3. Players will receive a card outlining the strategy for their particular
family. DO NOT SHARE STRATEGIES WITH OTHER PLAYERS.
6. Players spread out around the edge of the court and spend another minute
foraging, keeping their family strategy in mind.
7. When time is called, players will get in groups with other members of their family
to record how many of each resource they collected.
For the third round, more time has passed and the pond is shrinking as it dries up,
increasing the pressure to get out of the pond. 25 resources are now needed to live.
8. Players spread out around the edge of one half of the court and spend another
minute foraging, keeping the same strategies from the second round in mind.
9. When time is called, players will get in groups with other members of their family
to record how many of each resource they collected.
10. After filling out data sheets, all players return to the classroom to discuss the
outcomes of their strategies.
ACTIVITY
Cannibalism: is it ever a good idea?
Family Strategy Cards
You are a tadpole from Family 1.
You can eat ONLY general (yellow) food resources.
You are a tadpole from Family 2.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You cannot tell which tadpoles belong to which family.
You are a tadpole from Family 3.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You can tell that Family 1 is red, Family 2 is blue, and Family 3 is green.
You are a tadpole from Family 1.
You can eat ONLY general (yellow) food resources.
You are a tadpole from Family 2.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You cannot tell which tadpoles belong to which family.
You are a tadpole from Family 3.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You can tell that Family 1 is red, Family 2 is blue, and Family 3 is green.
You are a tadpole from Family 1.
You can eat ONLY general (yellow) food resources.
You are a tadpole from Family 2.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You cannot tell which tadpoles belong to which family.
You are a tadpole from Family 3.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You can tell that Family 1 is red, Family 2 is blue, and Family 3 is green.
You are a tadpole from Family 1.
You can eat ONLY general (yellow) food resources.
You are a tadpole from Family 2.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You cannot tell which tadpoles belong to which family.
You are a tadpole from Family 3.
You can eat general food resources as well as other tadpoles.
You can tell that Family 1 is red, Family 2 is blue, and Family 3 is green.